RULES OF VOICING

Shahzad Altaf

NUML, MULTAN

• Voicing is a complex phenomenon • We articulate thousands of sounds, unconscious of

their process of articulation.• Humans are privileged ones as compared to their primates.• Humans have a vocal apparatus that is apt for

articulation of discrete speech sounds • Tongue• Teeth• Lips

INTRODUCTION

THE LARYNX• In the production of speech sounds the larynx has

many important functions, but before we can look at these functions we must examine its anatomy and physiology, how it is constructed and how it works.

• Larynx is in the neck.• Its main structure is CARTILAGE.• Larynx is made up of two cartilages these cartilages

are hollow and are attached to the top of the TRACHEA.

• When we breath the air passes through the trachea and the larynx.

• These are two thick flaps of muscles rather like a pair of lips, the ex-name for these is vocal cords.

• At the front, the vocal folds are joined and fixed to the inside of the thyroid cartilage. At the back they are attached to a pair of small cartilages called the Arytenoids Cartilages.

Vocal Folds

Vocal Folds

Different positions of Vocal FoldsWIDE APART• The vocal

folds are wide apart for

normal breathing

and usually during voiceless

consonants like

p, f, s

Different positions of Vocal Folds

Narrow Glottis

• If air is passed through the glottis when it is narrowed, the result is a fricative sound for which the symbol is /h/. The sound is not very different from a whispered vowel. It is called a voiceless Glottal Fricative.

• when the edges of vocal folds are touching each other are nearly touching, air passing through the glottis will usually cause vibration.

• This opening and closing happens very rapidly and is repeated regularly between two and three hundred times persecond in woman’s voice and about half that rate inman’s voice.

Position for vocal fold vibration

Vocal folds Tightly closed the vocal folds can

be firmly pressed together so that air cannot pass between them.

This position is a glottal stop or glottal plosive.

symbol /h/.it can be practiced by coughing gently.

Respiration and Voicing

When air is moved out of the lungs we say there is an aggressive pulmonic air stream.

All speech sounds are made with some movements of air.

The lungs are like sponges and they are contained within the rib cage.

Lungs expanded with the result they take in more air.

Speech sounds are produced by the expelling of air at the rest position of rib cage.

Different variations in the vocal folds

We produce voicing with high intensity for shouting, for example, and with low intensity for speaking quietly.

Variations in intensity

If the vocal folds vibrate rapidly, the voicing is at high frequency; if there are fewer vibrations per second the frequency is lower.

Variations in Frequency

Different sounding voice qualities are produced.

such as those are harsh, breathy, murmured or creaky.

Variations in Quality

PLOSIVES

A plosive is a constant articulation that is produced by stopping the airflow using the lips, teeth, or palate, followed by a sudden release of air.

ENGLISH PLOSIVES

BILABIALALVEOLARVELAR

BILABIAL /p, b/

• /p/ is Voiceless, Bilabial, Plosive.Party → /ˈpɑːti/ speak → /spiːk/ lip → /lɪp/

• /b/ is Voiced, Bilabial, Plosive.bird → /bɜːd/ abandon → /əˈbæn.dən/ cab → /kæb/

ALVEOLAR /t, d//t/ is Voiceless, Alveolar, Plosive.

tea → /tiː/ heater → /ˈhiː.tə/ cut → /kʌt/

/d/ is Voiced, Alveolar, Plosive.drive → /draɪv/ edit → /ˈed.ɪt/ bed → /bed/

VELAR /k, g/

• /k/ is Voiceless, Velar, Plosive.cat → /kæt/ action → /ˈæk.ʃən/ book → /bʊk/

• /g/ is Voiced, Velar, Plosive.gift → /gɪft/ eagle → /ˈiː.gl/̩ egg → /eg/

1.Initial position (c v)

2.Medial position (v c v)

3.Final position (v c)

Positions of plosives

Closing phase

P, t, k (No voicing takes place) b, d , g (No voicing takes place)

Compression phase

P , t , k (No voicing takes place) b , d , g (voicing takes place during the entire

compression phase)

1. Initial position (c v)

1. Initial position (c v)

Release phase

p , t , k (Release of p, t, k is followed by an audible plosion)

b , d , g (Release of b, d, g is followed by a weak plosion)

Post Release phase p , t , k (Air escapes through vocal folds, making

a sound like h. ”aspiration” )b, d ,g (there is no aspiration and voicing

continues)

Aspiration

In initial position b , d ,g cannot be preceded by any consonant

In initial position p , t ,k can be preceded by s and in such a situation p , t ,k will be un aspirated (spy, store, ski)

Difference in the initial position

2. Medial position (v c v)

We can say that a medial plosive may have the characteristics either of final or of initial plosives.

In final position b , d ,g have little voicing and if there is voicing it is at the beginning of compression phase.

In final position p , t , k are obviously voiceless.

In final positions the plosion following the release of p,t,k & b, d, g is very weak and often not audible.

3. Final position (v c)